Berton al Lago

At Il Sereno in Torno, the appeal begins with the relationship between table and water. Set on Lake Como’s eastern shore, the hotel brings a distinctly contemporary design sensibility to the lakeside, shaped by Patricia Urquiola’s response to the natural surroundings. The restaurant’s waterside terrace makes the landscape central to the experience: a setting for travellers who value the outlook as much as what arrives on the plate.

The official restaurant pages present the dining room as Il Sereno al Lago, under executive chef Raffaele Lenzi. His stated approach is straightforward, down-to-earth and light, allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves. Vegetables take a leading role, while Italian culinary traditions and Lombard flavours provide a local thread through the contemporary cooking. This is the distinctive balance here: a regional grounding without a purely traditional approach, in surroundings that are equally modern.

Lunch and dinner offer different ways into that philosophy. Lunch beside the lake emphasises simplicity and traditional regional flavours, making it the natural choice if daylight views are your priority. Dinner gives more space to Lenzi’s culinary ideas through tasting menus. Among those described by the restaurant, the five-course Homage to Tradition revisits Italian gastronomic culture through a modern lens. Choose according to whether you want a relaxed lakeside meal or an evening centred on the cooking.

Before reserving, consult the official website for the current menus and ask about terrace seating if dining beside the water is important to you. Wine enthusiasts can also enquire separately about Il Sereno’s private cellar tastings, which introduce Italian wines and French champagnes. Keep the meal itself unhurried: the combination of contemporary design, ingredient-led cooking and the lake is the reason to come.